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Williston Northampton Holds Tenth Annual Diversity Conference “We are more authentically human when we embrace diversity,” said keynote speaker Dr. Martha Ackmann at the start of Williston Northampton’s 10th Annual Diversity Conference. A professor of gender studies and English at Mount Holyoke College, Dr. Martha Ackmann opened the Tenth Diversity Conference by speaking about her recently published book, Curveball: The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone, the First Woman to Play Professional Baseball in the Negro League. A strong and independent woman, Stone had pursued her dream against the wishes of her parents. They forbid her to play baseball because it was considered ‘un-ladylike’ and they feared wouldn’t allow her to be economically independent. As Dr. Ackmann wrote in her book, Stone was not always the most popular player in the league. Stone, described the discrimination she faced daily during her career in the male dominated sport of baseball by saying, “Sometimes they gave me a pat on the back and sometimes they gave me a boot.” Dr. Ackmann ended her speech by wishing the students a sentiment that reflected the goal of the day, “I hope you’re uncomfortable at times today and that you learn from that discomfort.” Then, in the spirit of Toni Stone, she said, “I hope you never allow someone to take away your love of the game, whatever your game may be.” Religion and beliefs, body image, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, and language were just some of the topics of the student-led affinity groups that followed Dr. Ackmann’s speech. In these groups, students were free to test the waters and share their opinions around socially tumultuous topics in the safety of small peer groups. In “Religion and Beliefs” one student asked another, “Are you lonely as an atheist, relying on yourself ?” The reply was simple and sweet. He smiled and said, “No, I have me.” “I’m not the sort of person who’s proud about something I didn’t choose, except for being Jewish,” said a young man who had been listing his favorite Chanukah activities.
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Students in the “Body Image” group had a prescribed set of guidelines for discussions: suspend judgment, speak from “I,” and challenge by choice with the goal of slowly developing a trust within the safe environment of their peer groups. On the other side of campus, in John Wright House, local storyteller Rona Leventhal was leading a workshop with a group of faculty. Some were wringing their hands, others shook their heads, or hurried up to one another and said, “I’m so glad you came. Thank you very much.” In another classroom, Ann Prescott, director of the Five College Center for East Asian Studies, described education in
Confucian China. Students would spend up to 72 hours in a miniscule cell during exams. Only then would they be considered lower in society than a novice. In the imperial system, education was valued over fame. “Michael Jackson,” she said, lowering her hand, then, “Me!” and raised her hand above her head. Down the hall from Prescott, International Intern Hasan Awaisi, a UMass graduate student, gave a lecture entitled “Demystifying Islam.” Awaisi discussed a number of misconceptions including the oppression of women, honor killings, and the Arab Spring. In defense of Islam, Awaisi said, “If you want to, you can interpret any religious text to justify barbarity, it’s been seen across history.” Many of the afternoon workshops were based in Reed, which became a hub of activity. Small groups formed in 103 to work on Kamishibai or paper theater projects; students in the West African drumming class played iron gankoqui bells. The loudest by far, though, was the “So You Think You Know Hip-Hop?” workshop in the Stu Bop. A crowd of enthusiastic dancers, led by Adrian Mendoza ’12 and teacher Marcus Ware, learned three short dance sequences and free-styled. In a later email about the event Bridget Choo, the director of the diversity conference, applauded the student leaders saying, “From the survey to the workshops: every aspect of the conference came from the purpose, passion, and integrity of our students.” Choo is the International Student Coordinator and Director of Diversity at Williston Northampton. “The work of diversity, most authentically done, begins with introspection,” she said. “I am so proud of our student leaders for not only modeling this but also leading the way for the rest of the community, including me, to follow.”